The annual Tulip Tournament is being hosted today by the Pella High boys soccer team. In the past, the competition has featured a more traditional tournament format, with six teams vying for the title.

Today’s competition will be a little different, as the five teams playing will compete in a round-robin format, ensuring each team four games to see how they stack up against the rest of the field. Pella High boys soccer coach Mark Solomon says he likes the value this tournament provides his team and the others that come to compete.

“In organizing this tournament a few years ago, I wanted to try to bring in quality teams from all three classes,” said Solomon. “Some of the recognition, I want the teams involved to get from the state, and moreover it gives us an opportunity to face teams that we wouldn’t normally see – be able to get experience with challenges that we might not normally have in the Little Hawkeye Conference.”

Additional boys soccer teams participating are Albia, Grinnell, Indianola and Ottumwa. The Tulip Tournament begins at 9:00 a.m. this morning at the Pella Soccer Complex on the southwest edge of town.